However, Mr Dirani again insisted on Tuesday that the sword was not a weapon and pleaded for it to be returned.

His mother, who did not want to be identified, cried as she spoke about her belongings being seized in the raids and not returned. The items included religious books, notepads of writing, her written will and the sword.

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She said she had owned the sword for 10 years and had it displayed on a wall in her bedroom.